Allahabad: Minutes after the announcement of the Ayodhya verdict, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Thursday expressed its dissatisfaction with the decision of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad HC and decided to approach the Supreme Court.

Speaking at the media gathering after the verdict, advocate for AIMPLB Zafaryab Jilani said, “No public resentment over the judgement is required over the verdict as AIMPLB has decided to move Supreme Court against it.”

Jilani added that, “The decision should not be a reason for disappointment. We hope that people will maintain peace and tranquillity and the matter should not be taken to the streets.”

He also said, “Two judges agreed that it was a mosque where namaz was being offered and the dispute is only about its construction date. This is why the court has handed one-third of the land to Waqf Board.”

Replying to a question about moving to SC, Jilani said, “We have decided to move the Supreme Court but we are not in a hurry. It is a 8,500 page judgement and we will take time to read it and prepare the case. We will talk to Supreme Court lawyers before appealing in the Supreme Court.”

Rejecting the Allahabad HC verdict, Jilani said, “We don’t agree to one-third formula given by the High Court and that is why we are moving to Supreme Court. We appeal for the complete decree.”

“SC’s verdict will be completely acceptable to us”, he added.

Regarding an out of court solution, Jilani said, “We are open for talks to anyone if a proposal comes but we will not accept surrender proposal as AIMPLB has already rejected it.”

Delhi Jama Masjid’s imam Bukhari also said that they will approach the apex court on the judgment.

Deoband seminary to study Ayodhya ruling

Darool Uloom Deoband, a leading Muslim seminary based in Uttar Pradesh, Thursday said its top clerics would study the Allahabad High Court judgment on the disputed Ayodhya site in detail before it expressed its views.

"We will sit, may be tomorrow, to study the court ruling before commenting on it. It is a sensitive issue and any comment in haste would be improper," Maulana Abdul Khaliq Sambali of the seminary told agency.

Sambali said the Darul Uloom office has closed for the day and clerics, teachers and officer bearers of the seminary would be meeting "most probably" Friday before "we react to the judgment".

However, the teacher of the seminary said the Darul Uloom requested Muslims to maintain peace and order and "not react hastily and angrily".

I welcome court decision, says oldest litigant

Mohammed Hashim Ansari, 90, the oldest litigant in the Ayodhya land dispute Thursday welcomed the high court verdict in favour of a temple and said a final decision on it will be taken by the Sunni Wakf Board.

"I welcome the court decision. I appeal to all Muslims in the country not to get upset over the decision as our fight has now become tough," said Ansari.

The three-judge Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court ruled in favour of a temple at the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi site in Ayodhya.